The newly established Joint Monitoring Committee in Shan State (JMC-S) marked its inaugural day in Kolam Township on January 9. The committee reportedly serves as a mechanism to ensure adherence by resident military troops and
ethnic armed organizations to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) signed in October 2015.
“Both sides have to negotiate. It will be very successful if both sides respect the points that they have included in the establishment of the JMC-S,” said Colonel Wunna Aung of the Tatmadaw, or Burmese army.
The JMC-S is comprised of 14 representatives appointed from the Tatmadaw, ethnic armed groups, and local civilians. In accordance with the committee’s mandate, representatives will monitor whether both sides observe the NCA terms and Military Code of Conduct as well as verify or manage any flare-up of hostilities.
“We discussed the [possibility of an] outbreak of fighting after the NCA signing. After both sides met to find solutions, JMC-S was founded in order to prevent fighting [from happening] again. We see this as a good thing,” said Major Sai Oo of the RCSS/SSA.
Attending the meetings to found the JMC-S were Lt-Gen Yar Pyae (Chairman of the union-level JMC), the Shan State chief of police and members of state government, and representatives from the Restoration Council of Shan State, Pa-Oh National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Chin National Front, and Karen National Union.
JMC-S committee members include three appointees from the Tatmadaw, three from the RCSS, two from PNLO, three civilians, the state police chief and state administrative secretary.
Another JMC-S meeting is reportedly scheduled for January 29.
